“Live with a man 40 years, share his house, his meals, speak on every subject. Then tie him up and hold him over the volcano’s edge, and on that day, you will finally meet the man.” —Xiang Yu (allegedly, quoted in an episode of Firefly)

I remember the old movies where there were sword fight duels. Eventually one would knock the sword out of his opponent’s hand and, just when he can kill the opponent, he lets him go. That says a lot about character.

So, I think any situation where one person can justifiably harm another person but chooses not to says a lot about his character. Ex., on the job, a co-worker made trouble for you with the boss. Later that day, YOU had the upper hand, but you chose not to.

I was at a meeting a couple of months ago at the top of the WTC Amsterdam. Suddenly a guy from the meeting next door burst in screaming, “Does someone here know CPR?!!!” Seeing that others were dialing 911, I ran to the meeting room where the victim was. He was slumped over the meeting table, blue and not responding. I helped a number of colleagues of his to ease him out of his chair, loosen his tie and to lay him onto the floor. By that time he was conscious and responding. In other word: crisis over.

At that point I looked around, realizing how many of my colleagues were just standing around, picking their respective noses and watching. I thought . . . WTF? Why not take action? Why not help? It was then I realized, and not for the first time, that not everyone has the character that moves them to action in emergency situations. Most people, most, have no clue what they need to do.

I think I need a fluther break. I’m getting very irritated with it today.

I can only judge the effect of someone’s actions. I cannot judge that a certain action at a certain moment is indicative of someone’s character. I would never want to be judged on my worst day? Would you?

-how they deal with people who disagree with them – not why they disagree with the person, but how they react to opposition.
-how they treat a cashier (or some other person of service like that). i’m not expecting full out conversation, because not everyone is especially friendly. but i hate when people are unnecessarily rude to their cashiers, the people who bag their groceries, etc.
-this one is for friendships: how a friend acts when they have a new significant other. that can certainly tell you a lot about priorities.

@daloon – I had almost that exact dream the last time I went out of the country (except it was my passport missing in the dream)! I definitely think that traveling issues bring out someone’s character pretty quickly. I hope to not have too many issues on my honeymoon in a week and a half!!!!

My Father once told me one of his favourite quotes which I have come to develop a similar affection for due primarily to the truth I believe it portrays,
“The best index to a person’s character are how he treats people who can’t do him any good, and how he treats people who can’t fight back” – Abigail van Buren